RSVP for USV's 2024 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

HEERF

Government Reporting

ARP/HEERF III Financial Aid Grants to Students

The U.S. Department of Education provided $39.6 billion through the American Relief Plan (ARP) Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) to provide some additional relief from the economic fallout related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited to announce that the University of Silicon Valley has been allocated $244,362 in our third round of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF III). The University of Silicon Valley signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement Form and intends to use 100% of the funds received to provide HEERF III grants to students.
HEERF III provides funds to institutions for financial aid grants to students. These funds are intended to help with any component of a student’s cost of attendance such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare. Our allocation was determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on the number of Pell Grant-eligible students enrolled on campus. Given the weighting, Congress clearly intends the funds to go to students with the most financial need as determined through the financial aid application process.

Students enrolled in certificate or degree programs as of July 6, 2021 (USV’s 2021 Mid-Summer census date) will be eligible to receive grant funding. This includes undergraduate and graduate students. While specific award amounts and disbursement strategies will differ across students, the priority will be to provide the most HEERF III funding to student populations with the highest financial need as established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Grant amounts vary by student based on the results of their 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 FAFSA® and their Summer 2021 Trimester enrollment status. The highest grant amount will be for students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant as determined by the applicable FAFSA®. Students who are not eligible for Pell Grants, but still have eligibility for other types of federal student aid, based on their FAFSA® will be the next group awarded. Finally, students who have not completed a 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 FAFSA® will be the third group awarded.
Grant award amounts for students who are attending less than full-time will be lower than the amount for students attending full-time.

Enrollment status is classified as:

  • Full-Time: Undergraduates – 12 or more credits / Graduate – 6 or more credits
  • 3/4 Time: Undergraduates – 9 to 11 credits / Graduates – 4 to 5 credits
  • Half-Time: Undergraduates – 6 to 8 credits / Graduates – 3 credits
  • Less Than Half-Time: Undergraduates – less than 6 credits / Graduates – less than 3 credits

The chart below outlines the amounts for how the funds will be distributed to all eligible students:

Student Group Full-Time 3/4 Time Half-Time Less Than Half-Time Total Students by Group
Pell Eligible (FAFSA)
$754.00
$656.00
$558.00
$459.00
198
Not Pell Eligible (FAFSA®)
$566.00
$492.00
$418.00
$345.00
176
No FAFSA®
$377.00
$327.00
$279.00
$230.00
49

We created a simple online form to be completed by students who are eligible for HEERF III grant funding. The link to the online form will be sent to eligible students via their university email address to be completed and submitted. After the completed form has been received, the grants will be disbursed to eligible students very quickly through the Business Office. Students will have a check sent to the address listed on the request form. The full award will be disbursed to students regardless of whether they have an outstanding balance or not.

 

The total number and amount of HEERF III Financial Aid Grants distributed to students is as follows:

As of: 12/31/23
Total Number of Eligible Students:
423
Total Amount of HEERF III Funds Available:
$244,362
Total Students Who Applied for HEERF III Grants:
350
Total Amount of Applied for HEERF III Grants:
$205,139

Frequently Asked Questions related to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) Financial Aid Grants to Students: Download here.

Other questions not answered by the FAQ’s can be directed to: HEERF@usv.edu

CRRSAA/HEERF II Financial Aid Grants to Students

Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) to provide some additional relief from the economic fallout related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited to announce that the University of Silicon Valley has been allocated $405,906 in our second round of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II). The University of Silicon Valley signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement Form and intends to use 100% of the funds received to provide HEERF II grants to students.

HEERF II provides funds to institutions for financial aid grants to students. These funds are intended to help with any component of a student’s cost of attendance such as tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare. Our allocation was determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on the number of Pell Grant-eligible students enrolled on campus. Given the weighting, Congress clearly intends the funds to go to students with the most financial need as determined through the financial aid application process.

Students enrolled in certificate or degree programs as of March 8, 2021 (USV’s 2021 Mid-Spring census date) will be eligible to receive grant funding. This includes undergraduate and graduate students. While specific award amounts and disbursement strategies will differ across students, the priority will be to provide the most HEERF II funding to student populations with the highest financial need as established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

Grant amounts vary by student based on the results of their 2020-2021 FAFSA® and their Spring 2021 Trimester enrollment status. The highest grant amount will be for students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant as determined by the 2020-2021 FAFSA®. Students who are not eligible for Pell Grants, but still have eligibility for other types of federal student aid, based on their FAFSA® will be the next group awarded. Finally, students who have not completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA® will be the third group awarded. International and undocumented students are not eligible for HEERF II funding. Grant award amounts for students who are attending less than full-time will be lower than the amount for students attending full-time.

Enrollment status is classified as:

  • Full-Time: Undergraduates – 12 or more credits / Graduate – 6 or more credits
  • 3/4 Time: Undergraduates – 9 to 11 credits / Graduates – 4 to 5 credits
  • Half-Time: Undergraduates – 6 to 8 credits / Graduates – 3 credits
  • Less Than Half-Time: Undergraduates – less than 6 credits / Graduates – less than 3 credits

The chart below outlines the amounts for how the funds will be distributed to all eligible students:

Student Group Full-Time 3/4 Time Half-Time Less Than Half-Time Total Students by Group
Pell Eligible (FAFSA)
$1,245.00
$1,094.00
$942.00
$748.00
206
Not Pell Eligible (FAFSA®)
$934.00
$820.00
$707.00
$561.00
186
No FAFSA*
$623.00
$547.00
$470.00
$374.00
63

We created a simple online form to be completed by students who are eligible for HEERF II grant funding. The link to the online form will be sent to eligible students via their university email address to be completed and submitted. After the completed form has been received, the grants will be disbursed to eligible students very quickly through the Business Office. Students will have a check sent to the address listed on the request form. The full award will be disbursed to students regardless of whether they have an outstanding balance or not.

The total number and amount of HEERF II Financial Aid Grants distributed to students is as follows:

Total Students Who Received HEERF II Grants: 383

As of: 12/31/23
Total Number of Eligible Students:
455
Total Amount of HEERF II Funds Available:
$405,906
Total Students Who Applied for HEERF II Grants:
383
Total Amount of Applied for HEERF II Grants:
$387,295

Frequently Asked Questions related to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) Financial Aid Grants to Students: Download here.

Other questions not answered by the FAQ’s can be directed to: HEERF@usv.edu

CARES Act/HEERF Financial Aid Grants to Students

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. One aspect of the act was the creation of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). HEERF provides funds to institutions for emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

University of Silicon Valley signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and intends to use no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

We have been allocated $350,736 to provide emergency grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds are intended to help with academically related expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare. USV’s allocation was determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on the number of Pell Grant-eligible students enrolled on campus (70% of the weight) and the overall enrollment (30% of the weight). Given the weighting, Congress clearly intends the funds to go to students with the most financial need as determined through the financial aid application process.

While specific award amounts and disbursement strategies will differ across USV students, the priority will be to provide the most HEERF funding to student populations with the highest financial need.  The method(s) used to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act are as follows:

To be eligible for an emergency grant award, students must meet the following criteria: 1)  students must have been attending USV as of March 13, 2020 as a degree-seeking student; and 2) they must be attending the Summer 2020 Trimester as a degree-seeking student; and 3) they must have completed the 2019/2020 FAFSA and be eligible to receive federal student aid.

Grant amounts vary by student based on the results of their FAFSA® and their Summer 2020 Trimester Enrollment status. The highest emergency grant amount will be for students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant as determined by the 2019-2020 FAFSA®. Students who are not eligible for Pell Grants, but still have eligibility for other types of federal student aid, based on their FAFSA® will be the next group awarded.  Emergency grant award amounts for students who are attending less than full time will be lower than the amount for students attending full-time.

Enrollment status is classified as:

  • Full-Time: Undergraduates – 12 or more credits / Graduate – 6 or more credits
  • Less Than Full-Time: Undergraduates – 6 to 11 credits / Graduates – 3 to 5 credits
  • Less Than Half-Time: Undergraduates – 1 to 5 credits / Graduates – 1 to 2 or fewer credits

Students who are enrolled, but taking the Summer 2020 trimester off (Standard Period of Non-Enrollment or Leave of Absence) are ineligible for emergency grant funds.

The chart below outlines the amounts for how the funds will be distributed to all eligible students:

Student Group Full-Time Less Than Full-Time Less Than Half-Time Total Students by Group
Pell Eligible (FAFSA)
$1,400.00
$900.00
$500.00
160
Other Title IV Eligible (FAFSA)
$1,175.00
$700.00
$400.00
134

USV created a simple online application/request form for students who are eligible to apply for emergency grant funding. The link to the online form will be sent to eligible students via their USV email address to be completed and submitted.  After the completed form has been received, emergency grants will be disbursed to eligible students very quickly through the Business Office.  Students will have a check sent to the address listed on the request form.  The full award will be disbursed to students regardless of whether they have an outstanding balance or not.

 

The total number and amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is as follows:

As of: 12/31/23
Total Number of Eligible Students:
294
Total Amount of HEERF Funds Available:
$350,775
Total Students Who Applied for HEERF Grants:
279
Total Amount of Applied for HEERF Grants:
$334,000

Frequently Asked Questions related to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF) Financial Aid Grants to Students: Download here.

Other questions not answered by the FAQ’s can be directed to: HEERF@usv.edu